Red Bulls' new faces get defensive

E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Look below the surface, beyond the highlights and box score and you'll find Juan Pietravallo's contribution to the New York Red Bulls. The Argentinean defensive midfielder has been the critical ball-winner in the middle of the field for New York and has quietly excelled during the Red Bulls' most prosperous stretch during the season.

"I think he didn't come here to score goals, I think he came in here to do what he's doing now," Juan Pablo Angel said of Pietravallo. "He's a solid player, he's one of those hard, tough midfielders and he's showing that week in and week out. ... I think that he has shown the more he plays, the fitter he gets and the more important he becomes."

Pietravallo, one of four players Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio brought in as part of a midseason makeover, is still getting acclimated to the U.S. game, his teammates and the artificial turf at Giants Stadium. And as impressive as he's been in this stretch of three consecutive home wins, the best, he said, is yet to come.

"I think I have to get used to the pace of the game, also I have to get used to the league and my teammates," the 26-year-old from Buenos Aires said through a translator Sunday following the Red Bulls' 3-0 win against Houston Dynamo. "I think you're going to see the best Pietravallo in the future."

The well-traveled Pietravallo made his debut against the Los Angeles Galaxy, coming off the bench in the 89th minute. Since then he's been impressive in each of the Red Bulls' three consecutive wins.

"I think defensively, we look like a team now," Osorio said. "We probably overlooked the job that Juan Pietravallo has done in the last three games as an anchorman in front of the back four, but his contribution in my opinion is huge."

The task against Houston was certainly a daunting one, considering the Dynamo had come into Sunday's match unbeaten in seven matches and had won four games in a row, including a 4-0 drubbing of Chivas USA.

But Pietravallo, who last played for Veria FC in the Greek Super League, was exceptional against the two-time defending MLS Cup champions. His work in front of the Red Bulls defenders helped Jon Conway record the clean sheet, facing just four shots.

"He's a guy that, along with the back four, needs to break up plays," Dave van den Bergh said. "From an offensive perspective he needs to give it to the guys who are a little more creative than him. Everyone has their role on this team. He is a far better defender than anyone of us up front. ... He's been playing his role very well lately. That clean sheet also goes out to him."

It also goes out to Diego Jimenez, who made his MLS debut Sunday filling in for suspended Gabriel Cichero and an injured Jeff Parke. The 22-year-old former Mexican youth international, who was on the books of Tecos UAG, started alongside Andrew Boyens centrally in the Red Bulls' back four.

"I think Diego is one of those guys who took the chance today and great performance, great contribution," Osorio said. "I think he deserves to be praised because of the way he played today against very tough strikers."

Jimenez was not only solid defensively, but he also picked up his first MLS assist when he sent a long ball from the left touchline that found Mike Magee, who took a touch to the right of Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad and scored his third goal in as many games.

"I think I'm happy because these things happen in the game," Jimenez said through a translator. "To be honest, I never thought the ball was going where it went. That pass is coming well and I'm to do my part in the game for the victory."

Perhaps the most impressive part of Sunday's decisive win was that it came without three starters. The Red Bulls have battled adversity in each of their three victories, which is a good sign as they head down the stretch.

"On the side we're missing three big players, but it's important that we have to see a team, not just individuals on the team," Pietravallo said. "The team that wins championships is the team that has the best 11 players and not individual players."